Single People at Risk of Dying 7 -15 Years Earlier Than Married Counterparts

Share

Research finds that staying single can be fun for many; but according to a new study, leading a solo lifestyle could have serious health implications.

Single People at Risk of Dying 7 -15 Years Earlier Than Married Counterparts

Advertisement

Researchers at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, have found that single women were at risk of dying seven to 15 years earlier than their married counterparts.

Advertisement

Single men fared even worse, with their married peers living eight to 17 years longer.

Researchers studied data from around 500 million people by analysing 90 previous studies conducted over the past 60 years.

Their findings showed that single men were at a 32 per cent increased risk of dying over a lifetime when compared with married men, and single women were at a 23 per cent higher risk than married women.

David Roelfs, assistant professor of sociology at the university, said that the report showed "just how poorly the singles do".

He said the results could be explained by the fact that married couples tend to have a stronger support network around them.

"If you're a couple, a spouse may be after you to eat better and go the doctor," the Daily Mail quoted him as telling the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"Sometimes it's just easier to be healthier and less of a risk taker when you're married," he added.

But for those that survive a single youth, the study found that the risk of death decreased dramatically in old age.

While the risk of death for single 30 to 39-year-olds was 128 per cent higher than married people of the same age, the figure dropped to 16 per cent in relation to 70-year-olds.

Roelfs said that his research was not reason to overreact though, as it was based on "probabilities, not certainties".

Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished.Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Disclaimer - All information and content on this site are for information and educational purposes only. The information should not be used for either diagnosis or treatment or both for any health related problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for medical diagnosis and treatment.Full Disclaimer